ABS Light and Overheating Rear Brakes

[Richard Archer]

I am experiencing a repeat occurrence whereby the ABS light comes on and the rear brakes are hot.  I notice it first with my TPMS and the inside duals temp climbs.  This is the 3rd or 4th time this has happened and last year I had to have the ABS Controller, rotors, calipers, bearings and seals replaced.  Unfortunately, this just happened again and I've searched around the BAC site looking for related info and the only post I found was from Pat Long back in 2018.  In your collective opinions, is the Rockwell Meritor disc brakes the issue?  Would this cause the ABS light to stay on or would the ABS Sensors be a contributing factor?  Any insights, reference materials and/or solutions would be greatly appreciated.
Rich Archer
2000 Beaver PT 425

[Fred Brooks]

  Richard,
Go to our Coach assist and scroll down to brakes and then Meritor brakes. Read the part under maintenance for the slack adjustors. If you do not use clay base grease and then purge the grease out, they will make the pads drag and overheat. Most shops the tech doing a lube job has no idea about this and just shoots chassis grease into the slack adjuster. Hope this helps, Fred

[Fred Brooks]

  Richard, I meant to say Caliper is the issue not the slack adjuster. Sorry about that, Fred

[Richard Archer]

Thank you Fred and the issue with the ABS light staying on is that due to a sensor issue in your opinion.  Can the ABS system cause a caliper to stay engaged?  One other question, where do I find Coach Assist on the site....can't find anything by that name!
Regards,

[Fred Brooks]

   Richard, If the caliper is causing your brakes to overheat, the abs sensor is in harms way. I am not a chassis technician but own your sister coach so I have been down the road you are experiencing. Send me an e-mail and I will send you the correct Meritor manual. brookdoc1@gmail.com. Fred

[Joel Ashley]

Richard, at this page’s upper right corner click on the bold blue link to the BAC’s main website at beaveramb.org.  Once on the site, tap the “Technical” tab, and find “Coach Assist” at the bottom of the menu that opens.

Joel

[Richard Archer]

Joel thank you for your help........I tripped across the link late last night.
Regards,
Rich

[Dave Atherton]

Maybe I can help clear up ABS lamp coming on and staying on. There are several reasons that
ABS sensor stays on. First of all there is not a safety or out of service involved. First of all there
Is what call air gap between ABS sensor and brake rotor out of adjustment, mud , grease buildup.
Grit dust from brake shoes. Not knowing history of any time rear wheel has been off for wheel seal
Leaking ( but reassemble bearing and reinstall on axle ) there is a end play measurement on end
play movement incorrect of which measurements between .003 and .005. Excess measurements
Beyond .005 the sensor lamp will stay on.

As far as wheel getting hot assume just one wheel possible a sticking brake shoe caliper ( sticking )
In slide assembly. Last again a ABS sensor lamp staying on does not affect operation of braking.
Dave Atherton Retired Cat Mechanic

[Fred Brooks]

   Rich,
Thanks for the e-mail. I sent you the Meritor disc brake maintenance manual and carefully read page 51. I also sent a copy to Steve to add to our Library for others that have our Meritor disc brakes. Blessings, Fred